Hopeless Romantics - February 2007

 

Westlife ranks as one of the most successful UK boy bands of all time, but Australia has been slow to respond. Melissa Phillips reports on Ireland's…

IRISH crooner Nicky Byrne says it has taken his band, Westlife, a good seven years to break into the Australian music scene.

So that instantly begs the question: Aren't Aussies romantics?

A self-described romantic himself and an unashamed fan of weepy movie The Notebook, Byrne takes a moment before saying he's sure Australians are ''quite romantic''.

''I'm not sure why Australia didn't happen for us all those years ago, but we are all very proud that it's happening now,'' the 28 year old says.

Having visited on a promotional trip in February last year, Byrne calls Australia ''just an amazing place to visit''.

''We love the country and we're looking forward to coming back.''

With such high praise for Australia, it came as a surprise when the vocal group cancelled its proposed September tour because of recording commitments.

Since then, Byrne and fellow Westlifers Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan have released The Love Album, featuring 11 romantic standards, including Bette Midler's The Rose and Lionel Richie's Easy.

The hardworking balladeers rarely take a break from the recording and touring cycle, which started with their debut #1 single, Swear It Again, in 1999.

''In 2005, we actually had four months off and that's the longest we've ever had off since we started.

''I think at one time there I did have six weeks off, but otherwise we are all pretty much together.

''But we don't sit around and moan and say, 'oh, haven't we got a hard life, we haven't had that much time off'.

''We are very lucky to have the job that we do and we all love what we do.

''We thank our lucky stars every day that we get to do what we do.

''We have had a combination of luck and hard work to get to where we are today. We know what it takes to do the job well and we're all willing to do that and go out there and work hard.''

Far more than being a flash-in-the-pan boy band, the harmonious foursome has been invited to work with some of the world's top pop divas, including Diana Ross, Lulu, Donna Summer, Mariah Carey and, most recently, Australia's Delta Goodrem (who dates former Westlife member Bryan McFadden).

''Over the years we have worked with some cool people and a few years ago we worked with Mariah and that was fantastic. Mark was very excited as he is a Mariah fan. He couldn't believe we would get to work with her on her song Against All Odds.''

Byrne says Australians always ask the group about Goodrem.

''It's like six degrees of separation and maybe you could now associate us with Australia through Bryan and Delta.

''They are both very, very cool people and we never fell out with Bryan. The reality of it is we wish he had never left the group, but we have managed to hold it all together from there and go on.

''I guess some thought we wouldn't go on when he left in 2004, but I think we have become stronger as a group.''

When the quartet did so well with previous album Face To Face in Australia, which has sold 1.5 million copies worldwide, the decision was made to record All Out of Love with her.

Through all of the chart success - 14 #1 singles in the UK from 1999 to 2006, placing them behind Elvis and The Beatles, in a tie with Cliff Richard - Byrne says they have remained ''typical Irish lads''.

''I guess you just keep hoping the hits will come… we did spend a bit, but most would go in the bank because you never know what is going to happen in life, especially in the music industry.

''When the four of us are together without our partners, we like to go to the pub and unwind and do what other guys do or we play a bit of golf.

''We just do normal things like walk the dog.''

Credit/Source: Guardian Messenger / Thanx Gitta at www.nishakimabry.de.vu